Posts by dustytinker58

It really depends on how you define "simple"... personally, when I look at Nicole's style, I don't see much that qualifies as simple. A lot of her pieces feel a bit tacky to me—heavy on the rhinestones and ruffles! But if you're saying the sales clerks are friendly and sweet? Yeah, I definitely agree with you there!

northerngardener29 said:I am quite new to this forum, though I have been lurking and reading your discussions since my recent engagement, which has helped me uncover several details I was curious about. Regarding photography services, I reached out to a local studio called Photo Pro, and they quoted me $1333 for a package that includes roughly 430 images in various sizes, five DVDs, and a photo album. They also mentioned they would need to charge me $67 for travel expenses, as I am based out of Indianapolis. So, I suppose the total cost will come out to $1400.

And does that include thank-you gifts?

Jamie Newman10 said:The zoom on this camera is absolutely killer... seriously top-notch quality.

Does anyone know what they're going for?

A few pages back, I think someone mentioned photographers like Brzica and Kelbas... do you guys have any other recommendations for a photographer in the Dallas area? I was looking into Photo Ilia, but they’re already booked up...

Jesse Bennett3 said:I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction—does anyone know where I might find the most affordable place to order dessert platters for a wedding around the Midwest area?

I heard about this small local bakery over in Semeljac called Vivo, $17/lb. It’s actually pretty budget-friendly, especially considering they're over 60 miles away...

I’ll try to track down some info elsewhere... but I’m also wondering, has anyone here picked up fabric for dresses at the mall lately? I need about 10 yards, so I'm curious—is it actually worth the trip?

Hannah Moore32 said:dustytinker58, to looks like organdy to me... maybe some sheer silk, or even just plain tulle layered over regular silk or satin... it’s got that vibe... but I’m leaning most heavily toward organdy... it's hard to say for sure, though...

If you ask me, organza is way more see-through than what we're looking at, so I don't think that's it. Besides, you can find dresses made of that kind of fabric in pretty much every shop during the summer months...
God help my cousins for dealing with me 😁

Hey girls! Has anyone here picked up any fabric for dresses from the hallway lately? I’m curious about the pricing—is it actually worth it? And more importantly, how’s the quality? I can't quite remember the technical name for this specific material, but you know the type: super lightweight, moves beautifully when you walk... kind of like this: http://www.modamo.info/images/storie..._500_large.jpg

Hannah Moore32 said:Hey Tete, did you ever end up getting a wedding dress from that Isabelle boutique in Cleveland?? Or even just stop by there to get a sense of what their rental prices look like... Thanks in advance 😁

I’ve been there, but I actually went to the shop in Des Moines, and the ones I was looking at from the Pronovias 2013. collection are $1567. From what I could gather, the price really depends on when your wedding is scheduled. It makes sense, right? Some months are probably cheaper while others are more expensive due to peak season.

Chris Kim said:I was wondering if anyone could share some more detailed experiences regarding the Hilton in Des Moines? 🙂

I headed out there to check out some wedding packages—both for the bridal party and just to see what things look like from a guest's perspective!
I’ll say this much about the first option: their prices are definitely more competitive than the others, but does a lower price tag actually mean better quality? Not necessarily! The lady working there was perfectly polite, don't get me wrong, but she just wasn't hitting the right note with me. When I tried to dig into the details—asking things like, "Look, does the stuffed cabbage really need to be top-tier, or are you just checking a box because guests expect it at a wedding?"—she didn't exactly lean into the conversation. Instead, she just brushed my suggestions aside with, "Why would you need that?" or "What's the point of that?" Honestly, it left a bad taste in my mouth. It didn't feel like she was actually interested in helping us pull off a great wedding dinner. If they aren't willing to listen to our vision, how can we trust them with our big day?
What about the other part of the experience? Honestly, the service was pretty lackluster. The servers barely checked on us, so we were left sitting there thirsty unless we went out of our way to flag someone down. On top of that, the food portions felt really skimpy. Now, I’m stuck wondering—was that actually on the staff, or was it because the newlyweds brought their own catering and just had the hotel prep it? I honestly can't tell! But all I know is the bottom line: I walked away feeling pretty disappointed.

Patrick Morris6 said:This year? Oh, you probably should've started already 🙂. Most people—bands, venues, etc.—are usually booked solid. I actually just started a month ago and barely managed to find a band and a photographer. But hey, give it a shot, you've got nothing to lose 😉.
September is super popular, just like May. Around here, most girls tend to lock everything down a year or more in advance 😁.

Henry Harris5 said:Honestly, you’re still fine on the dress and the flowers... but you might run into limited options with photographers if you wait much longer. We actually locked everything in a year and a half ahead of time just to be safe.
If you head over to Nicholas, they have the best selection of dresses around. Start looking now! 🙂) Good luck! 🙂

I actually had my venue and band sorted out way back in June last year, but I let the rest slide... honestly, I don't even know what I was waiting for! 😕 Now I'm starting to panic a little bit, 🙂 but oh well, these are all such "sweet" problems to have, right? At least that's how I see it... just try not to stress! :sad: 😁
I'm going to start searching immediately! 🙂 Thanks!

Help! I have my wedding coming up this September and I still haven't booked a photographer, found a florist, or even picked out a dress... I’m starting to get a little hit by the nerves. Is it getting too late? Should I be panicking and rushing through all of this right now? What do you guys think, and when did you all actually start your planning process?
I'm looking at booking Elijah ???? for photography and Stella's floral shop over in Savannah. If anyone has worked with them before, please let me know how it went! 😉

quietcobra52 said:Anyone know where I can snag those tiny little shot bottles—you know, the ones for bourbon? And what’s the damage like? Need about 170 of them for some thank-you gifts... any leads?

My suggestion? Just order them online from Bubba! They specialize in glassware and have a massive selection to choose from. If you're looking for those mini flasks, they have $0.88 and they even include the stopper.
Honestly, I think you'll end up paying way more if you try to find them at places like Walmart or other local shops that carry them. Shipping shouldn't cost you more than $17
!

Brian Grant9 said:Alright, I’m jumping in here too:

Does anyone know if there are any decent sales going on for wedding suits over in Cleveland right now? A buddy was telling me it might be smart to snag a deal at Galileo, but I have no clue if those promos are still live—plus, Cleveland isn't exactly a quick drive for us since we're coming from Brod.

Second thing on my mind: tiaras. Where can I find the cheapest ones, specifically that wider style?

Thirdly: decorating the cars for the guests. We aren't really feeling those tacky, oversized shiny bows, so I'm looking for some better alternatives. Has anyone here actually DIY'd their own unique bows or decorations? If so, where's the best place to grab supplies without getting totally ripped off?

I heard a little while back that they have up to 50% off on suits and other apparel in Indianapolis, out in the Midwest, so there you go... I've never actually been there myself, so I can't speak to the selection or the quality, but I've heard great things since it's an American-made brand.🙂

quietcobra52 said:So, I was actually just at the convention this past Saturday—fancy bows are like $2 for a pack of 10, and if you're trying to DIY your own, that ribbon is about $2.50 for 100 meters. Found napkins for $3 per 100, and balloons were a steal at $1 for 100. Couldn't find any tulle, though—but hey, I'm sure they'll have it in stock when I head back there this spring.

Thanks for getting back to me! 🙂
Are those napkins just standard ones, or are they the thicker, larger ones (like 16x16)?

Melissa Grant69 said:Somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000. I couldn't tell you the exact figure, but it's... well, it's a lot.

They really are great! Honestly, they operate so differently from any other service I've come across in places like Indianapolis or even around the Midwest, but still... I don't think I'd be willing to pay quite that much.

Hey ladies!
Has anyone picked up bows, veils, or napkins from the hallway boutique yet? I'm curious about the price range! Also, does anyone know if they carry cloth napkins or those cute little dresses for the junior groomsmen?

One more thing regarding the corridor—does anyone happen to know what the pricing looks like for Leon production?

Hey there!
I managed to snag a few coupons from the fair, so I figured I'd share them here in case anyone can use them...
TSA - 10% off your service booking
photo-joe - gift voucher worth $167
Coachella production - 15% discount
MAC Cosmetics - lash extension service - gift voucher worth $33
*The expiration dates aren't listed on the coupons, and honestly, I don't remember all the details myself! 😉

David Patel6 said:Does anyone have any suggestions for cakes or pastries in the Midwest, provided they aren't coming out of Grand Rapids?

You should check out Slatkica from Rushville! Their pastries are absolutely top-tier—seriously worth every bite.
They also have their own bakery over in Des Moines, which is much closer for those of us living in the Midwest, so you can easily stop by to sample or order something sweet.
You can even find them on Facebook under "Slatkica-slastice"

To be totally honest, I’m not a huge fan of the cakes from Grand Rapids anymore. They used to be some of the best around, but don't you think there are just so many higher-quality options available now?

Melissa Grant69 said:I wonder if a hall in Savannah would feel empty with 300 people in it?

And which of those big-name bands—Sax, Quattro, Still, Babylon, or 100%—actually plays a decent amount of foreign covers?

From what I’ve heard, you can actually partition the room off if you're expecting a smaller crowd.
As for the bands, I've only seen Still live, and let me tell you, they are great!